Career diplomat Pedro Padilla Tonos, a former Dominican ambassador to the United Kingdom, has been appointed ambassador to Italy. At the time of his appointment, he was the ambassador to the United Nations based in New York City. Padilla Tonos replaces Leonardo Matos Berrido in the embassy in Italy.
Over the weekend, President Mejia also issued a decree to appoint Marino Villanueva as the new Dominican ambassador to the United Nations. Villanueva is at present in charge of United Nations and OAS affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
Jose Ernesto (El Gordo) Oviedo was appointed counselor minister of the Dominican embassy in Brazil. Oviedo is a personal friend of new Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio (Lula) da Silva.